Why do we watch professional sports?
A group of mercenaries from around the world temporarily wear uniforms provided by a local millionaire looking to improve their image through sports. Why do we care if we can beat another group of mercenaries from around the world dressed in Are you looking to improve your image through sports?
Jerry Seinfeld famously said that sports fans root for laundry. Sometimes we see a few of the bad guys coming through town and we find ourselves rooting for the dirty laundry.
What makes us care, and often care too much?
A musician friend told me that the reason we pay for parking and expensive snacks and get elbowed in the ribs by strangers while watching live music is to see talented people working together. He said it's because he likes it.
I've always defined sportswriting as the study of talented people under pressure.
We are fascinated by talent. We also seek cohesion and a sense that diverse people are working towards a common purpose.
That's why losing or dysfunctional teams get so angry. They haven't justified the time we invested in them.
This Timberwolves team is currently heading into the second round of the NBA Playoffs and has rewarded fans for their investment of time and money.
Yes, they have talent. Without talent, you can't win in a league full of great athletes. What makes this team unique is that we have a lot of talent and the relationships that basketball requires.
Baseball players have no problem hating each other or batting next to each other in the lineup. The soccer team he is divided into three segments. Basketball requires cohesiveness on offense, defense, and transition, as well as the many meetings and practices required to achieve that cohesiveness.
President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly arrived, but he didn't do what many sports leaders do. He didn't hire “his” coach. He knew Chris Finch could coach and he had built relationships here.
From the beginning, Finch placed great importance on relationships with players. He positioned himself as someone they could trust and someone who would be eager to mentor them because he wanted what was best for them. If you ask him about the balance between toughness and empathy as a coach, he says he understands the pressures of being an NBA player, especially a young NBA player who is relied on by so many people and who is trying to acquire generational wealth. right.
He learned how to run a team with three talented big men and an up-and-coming superstar while earning the trust of his players and helping the Timberwolves become the best defensive team in the league. i got you.
Karl-Anthony Towns never complained about Anthony Edwards becoming the team's biggest star or Rudy Gobert taking his place. He adapted and was seen joking and congratulating Edwards and Gobert every series in postgame interviews.
Mr. Gobert was targeted by analysts who believed the deal would not work, but he never complained about that perception.
Edwards slowly developed a strong relationship with Finch, spending much of the interview praising and praising his older teammate.
Naz Reid and Mike Conley re-signed with the Timberwolves knowing they could potentially make more money as free agents. They believed in the people around them here.
Nickel-Alexander-Walker, Reed, Jaden McDaniels and Edwards are examples of young players growing up right before our eyes and are a testament to the Timberwolves' player development team.
These are just some of the reasons why this Timberwolves team is so fun to watch.
Great talent. Shrewd management. Passionate and professional coaching. Players who consistently show they care about each other.
It may seem sad that Finch suffered a knee injury in the closing moments of his greatest triumph as a manager, but it did allow assistant coach Mika Nori to run the show for a few minutes. It reminded me of how many quality coaches this team has on staff. .
While many were unhappy with the Gobert trade, the Timberwolves have developed into a deep and intelligent organization. This season, they have become a team worthy of attention.
